The Dodgers swept the then-first place Giants last weekend in San Francisco. Now the two teams head to Los Angeles for a four game rematch this weekend with first place in the National League West within grasp.
Thursday, 27 May 2021, 10:10 PM EDT at Dodger Stadium
The Dodgers and Giants tipped off their 19-game rivalry series last weekend in San Francisco, and it was all Dodgers. Los Angeles swept the Giants in three straight, winning by a combined 19-9 score. The sweep knocked the Giants out of first place for the first time since April 25. It was also the high point of an eight game winning streak by the Dodgers that had Los Angeles finally looking like the dominant defending world champions it was expected to be entering the season.
Now the Dodgers and Giants head to Los Angeles to do it all over again. The rematch will be a four-game set this weekend, with both teams hoping to emerge from the fray atop the West—although that would take some cooperation from the current first place team—the San Diego Padres. The Giants and Dodgers won’t see each other again until after the All-Star Break, so this will be the last time for the two contenders to make their first half statement against their arch rival.
The Giants got some bad news the day before the trip to Los Angeles. First baseman Brandon Belt, who missed four games last week with tightness in his side, was diagnosed with a left oblique strain after being forced from Tuesday’s game with pain. Belt was placed on the 10-day injured list. He was replaced on the roster by utility infielder Jason Vosler, who was called up from the minors. He went 2-for-14 in a cup of coffee earlier this season but isn’t expected to start other than to give a regular a day off.
Instead, Darin Ruf is expected to replace Belt at first base. “In the interim, Ruf is a really good option for us,” manager Gabe Kapler said, praising his ability to work deep into counts. “I really think he has worked high quality at-bats. You look up and it’s almost always 3-2,” he said.
The Giants’ rotation is also in flux heading into the series, but the uncertainty shouldn’t impact Thursday’s series opener. Logan Webb could be activated from the injured list and take his spot in the rotation on Friday or Saturday. As a result, the Giants didn’t release the rotation for the Dodgers series prior to Wednesday’s game, but Alex Wood is expected to get the call on Thursday. He’s 5-1, 1.93 this year but the Dodgers gave him his first loss of the year last time out, scoring two runs in six innings.
The Dodgers saw their eight-game winning streak come to end on Wednesday night, against the Astros, with Los Angeles and Houston fans brawling in the stands. Needless to say, the two-game series in front of a full house in Houston wasn’t the best way to recharge the batteries in between series with the Giants. The Dodgers will need to find a way to keep their intensity up against the hated Giants after the wild game against the team that the Dodgers claim cheated them out of the 2017 World Series.
The Dodgers could get a boost from the return of two injured players during the series. MVP Cody Bellinger and utility player Zach McKinstry are both expected to return to the active roster over the weekend, although neither will be ready by Thursday’s opener. Los Angeles has also been going with a four-man starting rotation since Dustin May went down to injury. As a result, they’ll go with a bullpen game on Thursday night and didn’t announce the scheduled starter prior to Wednesday’s game.
The Dodgers have been red hot and are likely to win the four-game series against San Francisco. The opening game might be the time to catch them, however. Los Angeles will be due for an emotional letdown after two tough road series in a row, and the pitching matchup leans heavily in favor of the Giants.
MLB Pick: Giants (+110) with BetOnline